DIV leader encourages soldiers to ‘stand up to suicide’ [Image 4 of 4]

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

09.24.2012

Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza, 7th Infantry Division Commanding General, speaks to his soldiers Sept. 24, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s French Theater, during suicide prevention and resiliency training. Lanza said he chose to speak from the heart, rather than use slides, so his Soldiers would understand his own experiences with suicide, as well as his thoughts on it. “There’s a stigma (in the Army) about asking for help, and what I’m going to tell you today, standing here in front of you as your commanding general, is there’s no stigma with me,” he said. “Someone is going to leave here today and acknowledge ‘Hey, I have an issue and I need some help.’”